MHADA Cites Revenue Need in Plan to Convert Bandra Football Ground
The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has sought the restoration of the original reservation of the Neville D’Souza Football Ground in Bandra to convert the plot into a convention centre, driven by the need to monetise the property, an official said. The planning authority stated that it will wait for the Maharashtra state urban development department to issue its final sanction before moving forward with the conversion process.
The proposal to convert the ground was cleared in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation House on Tuesday, setting off debate and concern among local stakeholders.
Explaining the rationale behind the move, Milind Borikar, chief officer of MHADA, stated that the proposed convention centre is being pursued primarily to establish a consistent revenue stream for the authority and the project. However, Borikar clarified that MHADA is currently not in a position to offer detailed comments on the plan, noting that the matter remains sub judice and the land is yet to be formally made available to the authority.
Once the land parcel is officially handed over, MHADA plans to appoint a project management consultant. The consultant will be tasked with assessing the overall demand and specific infrastructure requirements for building a convention centre in the Bandra area.
The decision has sparked opposition from citizens and activists who are protesting the potential loss of an existing open recreational area. The project has drawn heightened scrutiny against the backdrop of an ongoing debate over the city's rapidly diminishing public open spaces.
Residents and community members have questioned the justification for replacing an active football ground with a commercial facility when the city already deals with a severe scarcity of accessible sports and recreational grounds. Following the municipal clearance, all eyes are now on the state urban development department to see whether it will grant the final sanction required for the conversion to proceed.
